“A lot of history is getting pulled away,” Terry Lanoue, the pastor, said as he watched from across Henryville-Otisco Road in the rural town decimated by two tornadoes Friday.

The church — which has not always been Baptist — has linked people to the Lord since 1892, and it has been through similar circumstances before. When it caught fire in 1966, it was rebuilt with much help from the town’s most famous son, Col. Harland Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame.

Sanders’ parents, John and Clara, are buried in the church’s cemetery, and volunteers already had righted their tombstone Monday. Their graves are among many, including some from the 19th century, that had been prettied by an overnight snowfall.

Names such as Clegg, Dieterlen and Snow are clustered in the long, narrow graveyard. They reflect families who are still — and perhaps forever will be — found in this mostly rural area of northern Clark County.

In fact, Mike Snow stopped by a police command center — set up across the street from the church site to provide security and help — for some food. Snow’s mobile home was not totally wrecked by the storm, but he was trudging on without utilities. “Don’t give up,” Lanoue said.

He made a similar challenge to members of his church when they worshiped Sunday in his home. Every pastor reminds every homeless congregation that the members are the church, not the building.

He insisted that they not wonder about whether a new church will rise. We can hope that the new one will be both as beautiful and as practical as its predecessor. “This has been a landmark of hope,” Lanoue said.

“It’s a very close church; we’re there for each other,” said Diane Lanoue, the pastor’s wife.

Very little could be saved from the old church, except for some photos. But the church’s people are what matter. Fifteen of them huddled in the church as the storms descended on the town, including a family that raced from a minivan as debris rained down.

Like the church, the town has been shaken to its foundation. But it is still there. Good-hearted people have donated supplies, which stout-hearted residents have scooped up.

Lanoue now counts on a spare parsonage, blessedly intact, to serve as an ongoing magnet for aid. But he cannot help but wonder if the outpouring of support will keep up with the need. There is an ever-increasing amount of people who will need help.

“We’ll need a second and third wave of help,” Lanoue said.

But not resolve. There is plenty of that to go around.

Dale Moss’ column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Reach him at (812) 949-4026 or dmoss@courier-journal.com. Comment on this column and read his blog and previous columns at courier-journal.com/moss.